After reports that ITV News’s business editor, Laura Kuenssberg, was lured over to Newsnight with promises of a £200,000 salary, The Londoner grabbed its abacus. Kuenssberg will take her place as the BBC programme’s chief correspondent next month, despite grumblings by BBC union bosses that the key spots have been assigned on the basis of “cappuccino interviews” rather than a fair application process.
She will join an esteemed line-up. Current staff members include Jeremy Paxman (£800,000), Kirsty Wark (£500,000), Emily Maitlis (£200,000) and other star players such as Allegra Stratton, Mark Urban and newcomer Katie Razzall.
At a rough guess, there’s a £2 million wage bill for presenters, though some work across the BBC. It’s not quite the Chelsea team wage bill but Newsnight editor Ian Katz must be hoping that his star signings will take the show to the top of the current affairs league. Viewing figures are around 600,000 — 900,000 on a good night.
